Starter Issues '65 FLH when Warm!

[craig (DE)]

I've been having a problem lately with my '65 Pan. When the bike is cold, the starter button engages and works fine. Go for a ride and shut down the bike for a few minutes and nothing happening when pressing the button. When the bike sits and is totally cooled off, the starter button works fine. Rode the bike to work yesterday and it fired right up at home. Get into work and shut it down to show a buddy and a few minutes later I could not get the starter to do anything. Bike sat all day at work and when it was time to leave, the starter worked fine.

Could heat be causing this issue on the starter solenoid or somewhere else? I'm stumped.

[T. Cotten]

Craig!

Do you have the later starter relay update installed?

...Cotten

[Larry May]

Mine did that about 20 or 25 yrs ago, I added the relay like the factory bulletin, hasn't happened since, hope this helps, Larry

[craig (DE)]

Craig!

Do you have the later starter relay update installed?

...Cotten

Hi Cotton,

I'm really not too sure. Would that be located under the battery tray if it is installed?

[craig (DE)]

Mine did that about 20 or 25 yrs ago, I added the relay like the factory bulletin, hasn't happened since, hope this helps, Larry

Hi Larry,

Thanks for the update. I have a feeling I don't have that relay. So now onto the finding the relay and how to wire it up to the bike.

[T. Cotten]

Craig!

Sorry I haven't the bulletin handy; Somebody does.

The original '65 battery tray did not have the hole for a countersunk screw to hold the Delco relay beneath it.
So most just nutted it onto a starter stud.

Without the relay, a dirty button can be a thumb warmer.
(And I believe the '65 button assembly was unique, too.)

Still got the Delco starter motor?

....Cotten

[craig (DE)]

Cotton,

I did not notice any heat from the starter button.

As for the starter motor, I'm not sure if it is a Delco. I will have to look more closely when I get home.

[Omarttentmaker]

A couple things about the starter relay mount. When the MoCo decided to add the relay permanently, the battery tray had an L-shaped bracket stamped right into it where the relay mounted. '65 trays did not have the bracket, but H-D sold a retrofit kit to install the relay under the battery, and it came with a small L-shaped bracket that could be mounted under the tray. It even had the nuts and bolts to mount it after you transferred the hole locations and drilled the tray. The screws were flathead, so they would mount flush to the bottom of the tray.

[vph-d]

I would think one of the later Bosch type relays would be easy to adapt.
VPH-D

[T. Cotten]

I would think one of the later Bosch type relays would be easy to adapt.
VPH-D

I agree, VPH-D!

But they're ugly.

More modern little switches could be hidden even from strict judging.

Then you could bolt on a dead Delco just for looks.

....Cotten

[Omarttentmaker]

Hey Craig, I've got 3 of those relays, Tried to load a pic with no luck. PM me and I'll try to send a pic thru regular email of you give me your email address.

[craig (DE)]

Hey Craig, I've got 3 of those relays, Tried to load a pic with no luck. PM me and I'll try to send a pic thru regular email of you give me your email address.

Just sent you a PM. thanks!

[craig (DE)]

Thanks for all the information guys!

Would someone have a diagram on how to wire a relay? Of course, I still need to buy one and figure out mounting.

[jorrow]

You have PM.

[craig (DE)]

Thanks Jeff!

PM sent back to you.